Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Heracles and the Amazons. To find out more about Heracles and the Amazons, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Ares, the god of war, had given a belt to Hippolyta, the Queen of the Amazons, and for his ninth labor, Heracles had to obtain the belt and bring it back to King Eurystheus, who had promised it to his daughter. At first, Hippolyta was willing to give the belt to Heracles, but Hera stirred up trouble (no surprise!), which led to a confrontation between Heracles and the Amazon warrior women. Heracles killed Hippolyta in order to obtain the belt, which he brought back to King Eurystheus. There are various versions of the story; you can read more at Wikipedia.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Ino and Melicertes. To find out more about Ino, also known as Leucothea, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Ino was the wife of King Athamas of Thebes. They had two sons, Melicertes and Learchus. Ino was also the sister of Semele, mother of Dionysus, and so she helped to raise the baby Dionysus (Semele having been killed by Zeus' thunderbolt when she was pregnant with Dionysus). Ino's kindness to the infant Dionysus enraged Hera, who drove Athamas mad. Athamas killed his son Learchus, while Ino fled with Melicertes in her arms. She ran to the shore of the sea and then jumped in; she was transformed into a goddess, Leucothea, the "white goddess," while Melicertes became the sea god Palaemon.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

The Trojan Horse. To find out more about the wooden horse built by the Greeks, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

This shows the famous moment when the Trojans (you can see King Priam looking out over the wall) agree to bring the wooden horse into their city, not realizing that it is full of Greek warriors. In the foreground, you can see the treacherous Sinon, who has let himself be captured by the Trojans; he is pretending to be an enemy of the Greeks, revealing the secret power of the horse to the Trojans. The poor Trojans believe Sinon and bring the horse into the city... and at nightfall, the Greek warriors come out of the horse and the destruction of the city begins.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Reference Page.Jason Seizes the Golden Fleece. To find out more about Jason's question for the Golden Fleece, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

The Death of Niobe's Children. To find out more about the boastful Niobe, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

The Trojan Horse. To find out more about the wooden horse built by the Greeks, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

Theseus and Ariadne. To find out more about Ariadne and the hero Theseus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Ino and Melicertes. To find out more about Ino, also known as Leucothea, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

Echo and Narcissus. To find out more about Echo and her love for Narcissus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Heracles and the Amazons. To find out more about Heracles and the Amazons, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

Jason Seizes the Golden Fleece. To find out more about Jason's question for the Golden Fleece, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Jason sailed in the Argo with his fellow Argonauts on a quest to obtain the Golden Fleece. He finally discovered the fleece in the distant country of Colchis on the shores of the Black Sea (modern Georgia). With the help of Medea, princess of Colchis, Jason was able to seize the Golden Fleece from the serpent who was its guardian. Look closely and you can see Jason and the Fleece, as well as the serpent and Medea on the right.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Castor and Pollux. To find out more about the twin gods Castor and Pollux, see this Wikipedia article; for information about the image: image source.

Castor and Pollux were twin sons born from Zeus and Leda; their sisters were Helen and Clytemnestra. Zeus took the form of a swan in order to seduce the lovely mortal woman Leda, and so the children emerged from eggs. Leda also slept with her husband Tyndareus on the same night, so she had a mix of human and mortal children from both of her consorts. Castor is usually regarded as the mortal child of Tyndareus, while Pollux is the immortal child of Zeus. When Castor was killed, Pollux chose to share his immortality so that they could stay together, so Zeus made them into the constellation Gemini, "The Twins."

Monday, June 21, 2010

Meleager. To find out more about the Greek hero Meleager, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Meleager is most famous for his role in the hunt of the Calydonian Boar, and you can see him here accompanied by his hunting dogs. In addition to recruiting the famous heroes of his age, he also recruited his beloved Atalanta to join in the hunt; she actually drew the first blood, wounding the boar, and Meleager then killed it. Because Atalanta had drawn the first blood, Meleager awarded the boar to her as a trophy, but this outraged the other members of the hunting party. In the ensuing quarrel, Meleager killed his own brother and his uncle; his mother, in a rage, then brought about Meleager's own death by burning up the firebrand that was his life token.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Aeneas and the Ghost of Creusa. To find out more about Aeneas and his flight from Troy, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Today's image is a dramatic scene from the downfall of Troy; you can see the city burning in the background. The Trojan hero Aeneas has come back to his home in order to rescue his family - his father Anchises, his son Ascanius, and his wife Creusa. Sadly, though, Creusa will not survive their flight; Aeneas will lose her in the chaos and confusion and then be visited by her ghost, as you can see in the shimmering blue image below. You can read all about that in Vergil's Aeneid, Book 2.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Reference Page.Hylas and the Nymphs. To find out more about Hylas, the lover of Heracles, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

Andromache Mourns Hector. To find out more about Hector and Andromache, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Aeneas and the Ghost of Creusa. To find out more about Aeneas and his flight from Troy, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

Tiresias and Odysseus. To find out more about Odysseus and his journey among the dead, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Meleager. To find out more about the Greek hero Meleager, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

Castor and Pollux. To find out more about the twin gods Castor and Pollux, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

Danae. To find out more about Danae, the lover of Zeus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Hylas and the Nymphs. To find out more about Hylas, the lover of Heracles, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

This famous painting by John William Waterhouse shows Hylas being lured to his doom by the nymphs. Hylas had accompanied Hercules and the other Argonauts on Jason's quest for the Golden Fleece. When Hylas was off by himself, he was abducted by the water nymphs, never to be seen again by Hercules. There is a famous proverb, Hylam vocas, "You're shouting for Hylas" - i.e. you are calling out for something you have lost but which you will never regain, just like Hercules.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Prometheus Bound. To find out more about the Titan Prometheus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Here you see Prometheus, chained to the rock, with a bird eating his liver (a process that repeats day after day, endlessly, as Prometheus' liver gets eaten and then regenerates and then gets eaten again...). Prometheus was one of the gods, a Titan, and he is being punished here for having defied Zeus in giving the gift of fire to mankind. The story is famously told in the tragic play by Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound. The painting is by Gustave Moreau, whom you can read about here at Wikipedia.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Hi folks, I thought I should post a note to let people know that for the next couple of weeks or so I am on a vacation of sorts - let's call it a "book vacation," because I am finishing up the first draft of the Aesopus Magnus book that I want to publish by the end of this summer. My goal is to get the first draft of the core contents of the book - 1000 Aesop's fables in Latin prose! - by the end of June in order to have the finished book done before school starts in August. And... so far, so good - I am using a delightful piece of software - FileMaker's Bento personal database - to keep things organized. When you are dealing with a thousand of anything, things can easily get lost by accident... but with Bento it's proved so much easier than I expected to sort and compile the fables I want to use. I'm actually ahead of schedule with this book right now, mirabile dictu!

So, please be patient and I'll be back blogging in a couple of weeks, with lots more to say about the book when I get back. I've found all kinds of fables that I never had found in Latin prose versions before which it will be a lot of fun to share here at the blog! HAPPY SUMMER!

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Aeneas and the Omen of the Sow. To find out more about Aeneas and the omen of the sow, see this British Museum article:, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

As famously told in Vergil's Aeneid, the Trojan exile Aeneas finally reached Italy and experienced a vision of the river god Tiberinus during the night; Tiberinus told Aeneas that Aeneas's son Ascanius would found the great city of Alba on the location where they saw a white sow with thirty piglets. Sure enough, the next day, Aeneas and Ascanius found the promised pig, which they sacrificed to the goddess Juno to solicit her favor. You can read the whole story in Book VIII of the Aeneid.

Friday, June 11, 2010

Pygmalion and the Statue. To find out more about Pygmalion and his statue, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Pygmalion, disgusted by the women around him, decided to sculpt a perfect woman... and he fell in love with the sculpture. Venus, the goddess of love, turned the statue into a woman, much to Pygmalion's delight; you can see him kissing the newly awakened statue in this painting by Jean Léon Gérôme. The story is told most famously by Ovid in his Metamophoses.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Reference Page.Death of Orpheus. To find out more about Orpheus, the legendary poet and musician, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Pygmalion and the Statue. To find out more about Pygmalion and his statue, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

Athena, Jason, and the Dragon. To find out more about Jason's question for the Golden Fleece, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Aeneas and the Omen of the Sow. To find out more about Aeneas and the omen of the sow, see this British Museum article:, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

Odysseus and Penelope. To find out more about Odysseus and his wife Penelope, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Prometheus Bound. To find out more about the Titan Prometheus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

Orpheus in the Underworld. To find out more about the journey of Orpheus to rescue his wife Eurydice, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

The Rape of the Sabine Women. To find out more about the early Romans and the Sabine women, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

This is a legend from the early days of Rome, shortly after its founding by Romulus. This first generation of Romans was made up of men, with a serious short of women, unlike their neighbors, the Sabines, who had been living there for a long time already. The Sabines, however, did not allowed their women to marry the Romans. Romulus then decided to take the women by force: he invited the Sabines to a festival and, during the celebration, the Roman men grabbed the Sabine women and fought off the Sabine men, as depicted in today's image.

MORE FABLES: Here are today's fables from the Ictibus Felicibus project. These fables ALL have long marks, plus stress marks for easy reading, and the poems have meter marks, too, along with an easy-to-read prose presentation of the story:

Proper Name Proverb from Erasmus: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Lynceo perspicacior (English: More clear-sighted than Lynceus - and Lynceus was a legendary figure famous for his eyes; he supposedly invented mining for metals since he could see the silver and gold under the ground; from Adagia 2.1.54).

Greek Proverb of the Day: Today's proverb is Ἂν χωλῷ παροικήσῃς, ὑποσκάζειν μαθήσῃς (English: If you like with someone who is lame, you will learn to limp).

Today's image is another illustration from the Medici Aesop - this one is for the fable of the sly little kid, Haedus et Lupus - you can see the kid dancing to the flute to the right:

MORE FABLES: Here are today's fables from the Ictibus Felicibus project. These fables ALL have long marks, plus stress marks for easy reading, and the poems have meter marks, too, along with an easy-to-read prose presentation of the story:

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: You can get access to ALL the "proverb of the day scripts" (also available as random proverb scripts) at the SchoolhouseWidgets.com website.

Tiny Mottoes: Today's tiny motto is: Audax ero (English: I will be bold - and since audax is both feminine and neuter, this motto can work for all you women and men out there!).

3-Word Proverbs Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Omnia bona desuper (English: All good things are from above - a saying that can go with the fable of the Bona et Mala above)

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Sine labore non erit panis in ore (English: Without work there will be no bread in your mouth). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

Maxims of Publilius Syrus: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: Bene vixit is, qui potuit, cum voluit, mori (English: A man lived well if he was able to die when he wanted).

Animal Proverb from Erasmus: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Citius quam formicae papaver (English: Faster than an ant carries off a poppy-seed - which is to say, very fast; from Adagia 5.1.2).

Today's image is an amazing illustration for the story of the man who was turned into an ant, Vir qui Formica Fit - it's from the Medici Aesop. I'll have more illustrations from this beautiful edition of Aesop in the next week few weeks. :-)

Monday, June 7, 2010

Diogenes Casting away his Cup. To find out more about the Cynic philosopher Diogenes, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

This image illustrates a famous story about Diogenes the Cynic philosopher who lived a life of abject material poverty. He thought he had rid himself of all his unnecessary possessions when he happened to see a boy drinking water from a river, using his hands as a cup. When he saw this, Diogenes threw away his own cup; the boy taught him that he did not even need to keep his cup. You can read a Latin version of the fable at the Mille Fabulae et Una blog.

MORE FABLES: Here are today's fables from the Ictibus Felicibus project. These fables ALL have long marks, plus stress marks for easy reading, and the poems have meter marks, too, along with an easy-to-read prose presentation of the story:

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: You can get access to ALL the "proverb of the day scripts" (also available as random proverb scripts) at the SchoolhouseWidgets.com website.

3-Word Mottoes: Today's 3-word motto is Nil desperandum est (English: No cause is ever hopeless - although that Latin gerundive is far more elegant than the English!).

3-Word Proverbs: Today's 3-word proverb is Sero sapiunt Phryges (English: The Trojans get wise too late - which is to say, they only realized the danger they were in after they let the wooden horse inside their walls).

Rhyming Proverbs: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Multa senex plangit, quando mors instat et angit (English: The old man bewails many things when death stands by and tightens its grip).

Elizabethan Proverb Commentary: Here is today's proverb commentary, this time by Taverner: Mendacem memorem esse oportet: A lyer ought not to be forgetful. It is very harde for him that lyeth alwayes to agree in one tale, onles he hath a righte good memorie, for as much as the remembraunce of thinges feyned, is farre more hard than the memorie of true thinges. By reason whereof for the most parte the devisours forgers of lyes are by this meanes taken while forgetting what they speake afore, they speake thinges contrarie and repugnaunte to their former tale.

English: "When someone praises you, remember to be your own judge; do not trust more in what others say about than than in what you can be sure of yourself." What an elegant way to warn people not to get caught up in flattery; instead: nosce teipsum! :-)

For an image today, here is a Greek postage stamp commemorating the Argo, a legendary ship worthy of the legend of Aesop in the shipyard, Aesopus in Navali:

MORE FABLES: Here are today's fables from the Ictibus Felicibus project. These fables ALL have long marks, plus stress marks for easy reading, and the poems have meter marks, too, along with an easy-to-read prose presentation of the story:

Pastor et Lanio, where the lamb chooses between the shepherd and the butcher.

Latin Animal Proverb: Today's animal proverb is Mus rapitur subito, qui solo vivit in antro (English: A mouse is quickly caught if he lives in a single mousehole - we all needs lots of escape routes in case of danger!).

Proper Name Proverb from Erasmus: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Multitudo imperatorum Cariam perdidit (English: An abundance of generals destroyed Caria - referring to the belief that the Carians brought about their own ruin through having too many generals, and no sense of civil societyAdagia 2.7.7).

Greek Proverb of the Day: Today's proverb is Ἀπορραγήσεται τεινόμενον τὸ καλώδιον (English: When it is stretched tight, the bowstring snaps... so: RELAX).

For an image today, here is a depiction of the god Dionysus with his goat-like satyr attendant - it goes with the story of the miraculous pig, Sus Debitoris Atheniensis:

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Daedalus and Icarus. To find out more about the fall of Icarus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

In this famous story, the inventor Daedalus has made wings of wax and feathers so that he and his son Icarus can escape from captivity on the island of Crete. Daedalus warned his son not to fly too high because the heat of the sun would melt the wings; Icarus, however, did not heed his father's advice. Icarus soared high, the sun melted the wax in the wings and he plunged to his death in the sea below, while his poor father looked on.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Reference Page.Faustulus Finds Romulus and Remus. To find out more about Romulus and his brother Remus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

The Death of Niobe's Children. To find out more about the boastful Niobe, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Daedalus and Icarus. To find out more about the fall of Icarus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

Clytemnestra. To find out more about Clytemnestra, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Diogenes Casting away his Cup. To find out more about the Cynic philosopher Diogenes, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

The Murder of Aegisthus. To find out more about the tumultuous life and death of Aegisthus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

The Rape of the Sabine Women. To find out more about the early Romans and the Sabine women, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

Faustulus Finds Romulus and Remus. To find out more about Romulus and his brother Remus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Romulus and Remus were the twin sons of Rhea Silvia who, as legend had it, was seduced by Mars, the god of war. The birth of the twins caused great consternation for King Amulius of Alba Longa who had deposed his brother Numitor, father of Rhea Silvia, and wanted no rivals who could challenge his rule. When Amulius learned of the twins' birth, he ordered that they be abandoned to die in the wilderness, but, as you can see in today's painting, they were rescued by a shepherd. When they grew up, the boys returned to Alba Longa, killed their great-uncle Amulius and restored their grandfather Numitor to the throne. They then went on to found a new city of their own: Rome.

MORE FABLES: Here are today's fables from the Ictibus Felicibus project. These fables ALL have long marks, plus stress marks for easy reading, and the poems have meter marks, too, along with an easy-to-read prose presentation of the story:

Rhyming Proverbs: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Sunt asini multi solum bino pede fulti (English: There are many donkeys, except that they are propped up on only two legs - ha ha! I like that one very much - I am much more likely in my daily life to run into a two-legged donkey than I am a four-legged donkey).

Elizabethan Proverb Commentary: Here is today's proverb commentary, this time by Taverner: Cor ne edito: Eate not thy harte, that is to say, consume not thy self with cares and thoughtes of worldly thinges, for that eateth and gnaweth a mans harte.

English: "Pour the wine, pour it, as if there were waves of a stream; don't ask where it comes from, but just keep always pouring it abundantly." The rhymes are wonderful - and remember, in medieval Latin pronunciation, undae does rhyme with funde.

For an image today, here is something to go with the story Satyrus et Ignis; it's a sculpture of a satyr on a building in Paris: